Local church leaders on Monday learned about the most effective ways to prevent violence — such as an active shooter in the church — and avoid financial crimes within the organization at a special conference at the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office Public Shooting Range.

“We cover the vulnerability of churches, the sexual abuse — the child abuse that can happen in churches,” Tom Gillan, executive director of the PSU Crisis Management and Training Group, said. "The media reports on the violence, so we, as churchgoers, get in our mind that violence is happening in every church. It’s not as rampant as we think it is, but it is the worst thing that can happen in your church.”

For this reason, the course, presented in conjunction with Training Force USA, extends beyond violence and includes a focus on combating what Gillan says are the five most prevalent crimes in churches: burglaries, robberies, theft, embezzlement and vandalism.

“We don’t just look at the violence,” Gillan said. “We look at the big picture. It’s all about risk management and about keeping your congregants safe, keeping your employees and volunteers safe.”

Brad Johnson, chairman of the deacons at First Baptist Church in Monroe, attended with representatives from the church.

“We wanted to become more up to date,” Johnson said. “We feel like it is important with requirements rapidly changing that we are able to look at security from all of these department’s perspectives.”

Gillan presented information on security features churches can implement to improve safety, including upgrading to electronic keys that allow for tiered access for staff and volunteers and installing security cameras to monitor parking areas and buildings.

He also discussed various forms of violence and abuse, ranging from workplace to domestic to terrorism.

“People who go to church go for peace,” Gillan said, “and because it is a sanctuary. Sometimes evil gets into that place of peace, and when it invades that place of peace is when bad things really happen.”

The PSU Crisis Management and Training Group provides crisis management programs, services and specialized training for law enforcement, military personnel, government entities and the private sector.